Sure, we’ve got a couple months to go ‘til the year’s proper end. And yes, it’s probably a bit narcissistic to devote an entire blog to celebrating your own successes, victories, and downright magical moments. But since we’re already gearing up for our mind-blowing New Year’s Eve bashes here at Mercy and Cannery, we think that now is a perfect time to step back and reflect on the another wonderful year down on Cannery Row. And it is OUR blog, so we can pat ourselves on the back all we want. I mean, isn’t that the Nashville way?

Over the next six weeks, we will be putting together a collection of video clips, eye-witness accounts, aggrandizing recollections, and self-congratulatory high-fiving in honor of one of “Nashville’s Best Place(s) to See Live Music”. There will be epic battles, tales of rock gods, and downright lies about our sordid collective past. Have video from your favorite show you want to share? Cell-phone pics you’d like to see posted up? Missed connections you’re desperate for a chance to seal the deal with? Hit us with your best shot at blog@mercylounge.com.

OF MONTREAL

2009 started off with a bang as we welcomed Athens, Georgia’s indie-pop sensations Of Montreal to the Cannery ballroom stage. Over the course of their sold out performance, the band delivered just what fans have come to expect: an androgynous, sexed-up set full of quirky pop and playful electro-fuzz. They closed the night out with a raucous rendition of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” that had the audience gleefully obeying the teleprompter’s simple directive: “SCREAM”. Drew insists that watching a sold-out sea of people all pogo-dancing right along with the band was one of the show highlights of the year. Check it out for yourself:

LUCERO

Just a few weeks later, we had the honor of hosting a two-night stand from Memphis’ whiskey-fueled alt-country heroes Lucero, this time upstairs at the Mercy Lounge. Many of you die-hard fans came, drank, and stumbled outta here on Friday night, only to return equally enthusiastic on Saturday night. The band matched the crowd’s energy with a lengthy but lively set of fan favorites and cuts from all five of their studio albums. By the end of the weekend, we had no doubts as to Lucero’s claim to being one of the best and hardest-touring bands in the country.

6-YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY: 6 BANDS, 6 NIGHTS, 6 YEARS!

As we sit around the office, chatting about our overly ambitious plans for this year’s 7^th Anniversary party, it’s nice to reminisce about last year’s festivities. We took great pride in being able to celebrate our own awesome-ness by putting the best and brightest of the local rock scene up on our esteemed stage for a series of free shows. If we tried to list all the incredible performances from that week, this blog would start to look more like a lengthy database of Nashville rock-cool. You can check out the full line-up here if you’re in the mood to kick yourself for missing out on the best Nashville-centric mini-festival the city had to offer in ’09. Our vote for highlight moment definitely goes to Gumby onstage performing “Danger Zone” along with Mega Man’s favorite purveyors of rock-opera style epic awesome-ness, The Protomen. Clip below:

DR. DOG

Despite high attendance (sold out, in fact…) that was potentially fueled by pre-show internet rumors of an appearance by ex tour-mates The Black Keys, Dr. Dog delivered a Valentine’s Day set that rocked and rolled entirely on it’s own merits. The Mercy Lounge was packed to capacity with rock-romancers and jilted lovers who soaked in the band’s brand of 60’s style psychedelic rock.

And to cap off the Hallmark holiday, over 4 dozen lucky, lonely people received roses from the Mercy Lounge’s own private Casanova, Gumby himself. We have so far been unable to find photographic documentation of this, so if you managed to snap a shot…send it our way: blog@mercylounge.com.

…Aaaaaand, that’s about it for this week. We’ll be back next Wednesday with another installment of highlights and fond memories from our sixth wonderful year in your humble service, Nashville.

Also, be on the lookout for our new “Shit Chark Says” feature, Coming Soon!